Loading machine



April 1935- I F. CARTLIDGE 1,997,247

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 2, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jug/7281' 71701773, Off/1&6

A ril 9, 1935. F. CARTLIDGE 1,997,247

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N Z 701? (arilldgc @z a. PM

F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE April 9, 1935.

Original Filed Aug. 2, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 9 ,1935. I F. CARTLIDGE 7 LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr, 9, 1935 UNITED j STATES LOADING MACHINE Frank Cartlidge, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Original application August 2, 1930, Serial No.'

472,701. Divided and this application Decem- 7 her 14, 1931, Serial 13, 1934 V 25 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in truck mounted material. gathering and loading machines particularly adapted for loading coal at the working face of a. mine, wherein the gathering element is extensible. into and retractable from the coal independently of movement of the supporting truck and has among other objects to provide a new and improved means of a'simplified construction for extending thegathering and loading element into or retracting said gathering and loading element from the coal.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: r

Figure 1 is a side elevation of amachine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 .is an'enlarged side elevation of the s embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 1, with parts broken awayandl in section;

Figure 4 is a partial fragmentary enlarged detail side elevation of the forward portion of the embodiment of my invention shown in. Figure 1, with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details thereof;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially. online 66 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line (-1 of Figure 4;

Figure 8,is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 4; and I i Figure 9 is a detail view of a'portion ofthe mechanism for operating the clutches on the device of my invention. 7 7

Like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the various figures. I

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the main elements of: the embodiment of my invention illustrated consist of a wheeled truck or main frame it) having an inclined gathering and loading element H in front of said main frame, and a discharge conveyor l2 extending from beneath the rear end of said gathering and loading element and upwardly and rearwardly therefrom overhanging the rear end of said mainframe for discharging material into suitable receptacles such as mine cars,

Suitable means are provided for driving the main operating parts, whichmeans herein comprises an electric motor is. Said electric motor has driving connection with the truck wheels for taken substantially driving the loading machine about the mine and 580,756. Renewed July for feeding the loading element ll into the material to be. loaded. Said electric motor also serves as a driving means for the operating parts. on the gathering and loading element H, for

raising or lowering said gathering and loading element, for. swinging saidgathering and'loading element abouta vertical axis, and for extending said loading element into or retracting said loading element from the material which is'being loaded. The details of the drive to the main operating parts are similar to those disclosed in my aforementioned prior application so will not herein be described in detail. r

' The gathering and loading element ll comprises an inclined conveyor frame supported between a pair of upright sideplates I5'for pivotal movement with respectthereto'about a horizontal axisydisposed adjacent the rearward end thereof; Theupright side; plates. l5 are in turn supported on the fmain frame lll for swinging the inclinedconveyor. frame, l4 about avertical axis; The means for swinging the uprightside plates 15 about a vertical axis, and the inclinedconveyor frame M about a horizontal axis, are not herein shownin detail nor described since they are no portion of my presentinvention and are .fully' disclosed inmy aforementioned prior. application.

The inclined conveyor frame l4 extends for wardly from its axis of pivotal connection .to the upright side plates 15 and comprises side plates l6 arranged adjacent opposite sides thereof. and" a bottornpan l'l tying said side plates together. a The side plates l0 are inclined. outwardly and upwardly from the top portion thereof to provide a means for deflecting material onto the bottom pan I! of the conveyor'frame Mduring movement upwardly therealong. g r

A suitable conveying-means is carried byithe inclinedconveyor frame M which may be of any suitable construction but whichis herein shown as being a flight conveyor 18 comprising endless chains i9 having flights 20 supported therebetweenin a usual manner. The endless chains 19 are trained around suitable direction'chan'ging devices on a transversely extending 'shaftZI at the forward end of the inclined conveyor frame l l along the top side of the bottom panl'l to and around suitable drive sprockets on a transversely extending drive shaft 22. Said shaft is journaled in said conveyor frame and the side plates l5 and is coaxial with the axis ofpivotal connection of said conveyor frame to said side plates. From thence the endless chains l9 are trained around suitable guides beneath the bottom pan ll under idler sprockets 23 and over drive extend to and around the aforementioned direction changing devices on the transversely extend ing shaft 2|.

The transversely extending drive shaft 22 is driven from the motor l3 by means of a'suitable geared reduction and a chain and sprocket drive indicated at 28 in a manner similar to the manrier in which the conveyor is driven in my aforementioned prior application. 7 V

The gathering element '21 is of a construction similar to that shown in my aforementioned prior application and includes an inclined apron 29 extending forwardly of and to each side of the inclined conveyor frame M and having aground engaging-surface 30. 'As herein shown said apron is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the conveyor frame i4 and at a greater angle of incidence to the ground upon which the machine rests than said inclined conveyor frame. Suitable gathering mechanism is supported' on the inclined apron 29 which maybe of any construction, but which is herein preferably shown as comprising'gathering arms 3| supported on suitable endless chains guided for movementiin an orbital path along guide members 33 disposed along each side of said inclined conveyor frame in a usual manner. a I

Referring now in particular to the means-for extending and retracting the gathering element with respect to the inclined conveyor frame l4,

7 moved along said conveyor. frame by power means actuated by the endless chains l9 and drive sprockets 24. 7 H I j The forwardlyextendingframe member 25 is constructed so as to'be slidable along the inclined conveyor frame 14 and both sides of said frame member are substantially the same so one side only is herein shown in detail. As herein shown the forwardly extending frame member 25 comprises side plates 32 arranged along the outer sides ofthe side plates Hi and having outwardly flared upper portions .34 extending beneath the outwardly flared upper portions of the side plates I 6t Portions 35 are herein shown as being secured to the upper surface of the outside of the flared portions 34 and extend upwardly and in wardly from said outwardly flared upper portions along the top side of .theoutwardly flared portions of the side plates [6. Bearing strips 35 are provided between the under surface of the portions 35 and the upper surface of the outwardly flared portion of the side plates [,5 to permit slidable movement of the portions 35 along. the outwardly flared'portion of the side plates [6. Likewise, bearing strips 31 are securedito the top side of the outwardly flaredupper portions 34.

with and drives planetary pinions 60.

suitable slots formed in the under surface of members 45 fixed to the inner side of the side plates 32.. Angles 4| are attached to the inner sides of the side plates 32 on one leg. The other legs of said angles extend inwardly from said side plates and are engageable with the upper surface of racks 42 extending longitudinally of the inclined conveyor frame it. The racks A2 are connected to the outer side plates of said inclinedconveyor frame in a suitable manner,

such as cap screws indicated at 43, and have their teeth extending downwardly therefrom. It may thus be understood that the gathering element '2'! and forwardly extending frame member 26 may be slidably moved along the inclined conveyor frame l4.

.Referring now in particular to the means for slidably moving the gathering element 21 and forwardly extending frame member 26 along the inclined conveyor frame M for extending said gathering element into the material it is desired to load or for retracting said gathering element therefrom; bevel pinions 45 are keyed on opposite ends of the transverse shaft 25 and mesh with and drive bevel gears 45 keyed on shafts disposed perpendicularly tothe inclined apron 25). Said shafts extend upwardly from said bevel gears and have their upper portion journaled in suitable bearing means adjacent the underportion of said apron. Sprockets 48 are keyed to the upperend'of said shafts for driving the gathering arms 3| in orbital pathsabout the guide members 33. a

A bevel gear 48 is keyed on the right hand shaft 41 intermediate the ends thereof. Said bevel gear meshes with anddrives a bevel pinion 50 keyed on a shaft 52 extending longitudinally of the-forwardly extending frame member 26 and disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said longitudinally extending frame member. member 53 rearwardly of the bevel pinion 5B and has an end 54 opposite said bevel pinion which is rotatably supported within a suitable socket in a member 55. Said member has a shaft portion 56 extending-rearwardly therefrom which is journaled within suitable bearing supports on the forwardly extending frame. member 26. Said member has a portion 51 which serves as a casing for a planetary gear reduction device 58 for driving the shaft portion .55 from the shaft 52 in one direction at one speed or in an opposite direction at another speed without reversal of said shaft. I

Referring .now in particular to the means for driving the shaft portion 56 of the member from the shaft 52, a sun gear 59 is keyed on the shaft 52 forwardly of the member 55 and meshes Said pinions are journaled on studs 6| supported within a cage .62, which cage is provided with a hub 63 rotatably supported on the shaft 52. An internal gear 64 is keyed within the casing portion 51 of the member 55, which internal gear meshes with and is driven by the planetary pinions 65.

The hub 53 is provided with teeth 55 on its outer periphery, which teeth mesh with teeth cut on the inner periphery of a clutch member 66. Said clutch member is provided with forwardly extending clutch jaws 51 which are adapted to mesh with clutch jaws 59 integral with the bearing member 53.

Thus when the clutch jaws 61 mesh with the clutch jaws 69, the cage 52 is held'from rotation. This causes the sun gear 59 to rotate the plan- The shaft 52 is journaledin a bearing "The clutch-fork 8! is supported: for pivotal movee mentabout an axis perpendicular to'the longi- 'etary pinions upon rotation of-the shaft 52 which in turn drives the internal gear 6k and member, 55 in one direction at a slower speedthan the speed of rotation of said shaft.

The clutch member 66; is also provided with inwardly extending clutch jaws 18- which are adapted to mesh with clutch jaws H formed integral with the shaft 52;" Thus upon rotatio'n of the shaft 52 when the clutch jawslflmeshwith the clutch jaws ii the cage 62 is'rotated at the speed of rotation of the shaft 52 which in turn drivesthemember 55' atthe speed of rotation of said shaft in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said member when the clutch jaws 6'! are engagedwith'the clutch jaws 6,9 in an obvious manner.

It may thus be seen that the member 55 may be rotated at a slow speed in one direction or at a higher speed in an opposite direction without reversal of the endless chains IE! or shaft 41, and that when the clutch jaws 6'! and 10 of the clutch member Beare'disengaged from the clutch jaws 69 or II that rotation of the member 55 will bestopped when said member is under a load. Suitable means are provided for shifting the clutch member which will hereinafer be r'eferred to. 1 I

A worm 12 is keyed on the shaft portion 56 0f themember 55 and meshes withand drives a V T! is provided with a'shearing pin 18. Said pin is adapted to engage the' aperture Win the member 15 and is secured to the drive collar ll by means of a suitable setscrew 19.

It is thus seen that the shaft T4 is 'dr'ivengby the worm gear 13 through the member 15, shearing pin 18, and drive collar 1'1 and that when an overload is imposed upon the shaft" the shearing pin 18 will break which will prevent breakageof the drive gearing. f i

' Drive pinions are keyed on the shaft 1 adjacent opposite sides of the conveyor frame l4 and adjacent the inner sides of the side plates The drive pin'ioris 89 mesh with the racks 42* for translationally moving the forwardly extending frame member 26 and gatherin'gelement 21 with" respect thereto upon rotation of said drive pinions. Thus means have been provided for extending and retracting the gathering element'll, which means is movable with said gathering element and driven fromthe endless chains.

lsof'the flight conveyor Hi. Itmay also beseen that as the gathering element 21' is moved with respect to the inclined conveyor frame 14,1 that the drive sprockets 24 and idler sprockets '23- is provided whichhas suitable pins extending inwardly from oppositelsidesof thelprongs there-' of. Said pinsare engageable with a suitable groove formed in said outer periphery of the clutch member for shifting said clutch member;

tudinal axis of the inclined conveyor frame 14 on members 'at its top and bottom sides thereof. A portion 86 of the clutch fork 8| extends inwardly therefrom and is engaged with-a socket 7 8! provided 'in a'linkof an endless chain 88; The

endless: chain as extends longitudinally of the conveyor frame M. and gisfitraine'd around an idler sprocket 8d supported on the inclined con-' veyor frame M adjacent the forward end thereof. Fromthence said endless chain extends around a sprocket 90 supported ona' shaft 9| journaledin the inclined conveyor frame Min a suitable manner (not herein shown). A- hand wheel 93 is keyed on the outer end of the shaft ill for rotating said shaft and the sprocket 3'9. Thus rotation of the hand-wheel 93 i! one-direction or another drives the endless chain 88 which fork 8| which'pivotally movessaid clutoh fork and shifts the clutch member; 66 longitudinally of the shaft 52. During movement of the gathering" element'ZT along the conveyor frame I4, the socket 81 is moved by the port'ion 8B of the clutch fork 8| which drives the endless'chain 88 and rotates the hand wheel-'93. It may be seen that the arrangement is 'such'that the clutch member (EB-maybe shifted from a common point on said conveyor frame in any position of the gathering element 21 with respect to the inclined conveyorfraine l4. 7

Suitable means are provided for automatically shifting the clutch member 65 when the gathering element 2-1 is in; an extreme forward or rearward position with respect to the inclined ccn veyor frame M, which means includes a sto'p 94'.

Said stop is formed integral with the outer side of the side plate [6 of the inclined conveyor frame (4; and "disposed ad j acent the for-ward end thereof and forwardly of the idler sprocket 89. A stop 25' is-forined integral-with the side'plate I 5 of the inclined conveyor frame i5 and is spaced rearwardly from the stop 94% Said stopsare adapted to engage an inwardly extending projection 96 of a shifting member 91+ Said inwardly extending projection of saidshifti'ng member rides in suitable guides the sideplates 32.. Said 7 shifting member is supporte'dlfor slida'blei move- ,ment with respect to theside platesfil in brackets 98'. Said shifting member extends rearwardly and outwardly from said bracketsand has a forwardly along the inclined:conveyorcframe'ld at a relatively slow rate:v of speed by meansof the pinions Bil meshing withvthe racks 42 and driven by-theplanetary gear reduction device 58.

As the forwardly extendingtframe member 25 and gathering element 21 movedtforwardly along the inclniedtconveyor frame ligand as" saidfor wardly extending frame member reaches the end ofits forward" movement, the: projection of the shifting member 91 engages the stop 94; Engagement of the stop 94 with the projection '96 of" the shifting member. 9] will. effect movement of the shifting member 91 rearwardly with respect to the forwardly extending frame member movement of the gathering element 21' along the inclined conveyor frame 14 is stopped and the clutchjaws 78 arelengaged with theclutch jaws H to retract said gathering element by means of the hand wheel 93 in a manner which has hereinbefore been, described. When the clutch jaws 7B are en'gagedwith the clutch jaws 1!, the gathering element El and forwardly extending frame member 26'will move rearwardly along the inclined conveyor frame M until the projection 96 of the shifting member 97 engages the stop 95. Engagement of'the projection fifiw with the stop 95. will move the shifting member .9? forwardly with respect to. the forwardly extending frame member 28 which will disengage the clutch jaws 10 from the clutch jaws II and stop movement of said forwardly extending frame member along the inclined conveyor frame l4." It may thus-be seen that means have been provided for-extending the gathering element 2'! along the conveyorframe M at a relatively low rate of speed, which means is driven from-the flight conveyor leandthatsaid means may also effect withdrawal of said gathering element at a higher rate of speed Without reversal of movement of said flight conveyor It may also be seen that automatic. safety means have been provided to. stop movement of the gathering element 27 along theconveyor frame l4 and prevent the transversely extending frame member from running off the inclined conveyor frame 14 and to limit rearward movement of said transversely extending frame member with respect to said inclined conveyor frame. It, may also be seenthat the device of my invention is so arranged that the means for extending and retractingthe gathering element 21 may be controlled froma common point on the inclined conveyor frame [4 inall positions of travel of said gathering element with respect to said inclined conveyor frame, and that the mechanism for moving said gathering element along said conveyor frame travels'along the conveyor l8 and endless chains 19 while being driven therefrom during movement of said gathering, element along said conveyor frame. While'I have hereinshown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied-it will be'understood that-the construction and arrangementof the various parts may be altered or changed without departing from the'spirit or scope thereof. Furthermore, I do. not wish to be construed as limiting myself tothe particular embodiment illustrated, excepting'as it may b limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention; 1. In combination with a loading machine, an inclined conveyor comprising a conveyor frame and a plurality of endless chains having flights carried therebetween, 'a gathering element supported on said.inclined conveyor for slidable movement therealong; and means carried by said gathering element and movablealong and driven by said endless chains for 1 moving said gatheringelement along said inclined conveyor comprising a pinion, af rack meshed with said pinion, and gear reduction mechanism driven by said endless chains and -havingdriving connection with said pinion. 2. In combination with a loading machine, an inclined conveyor comprising a conveyor frame and a plurality of-endless chains having flights carried therebetween, a, gathering element supported on said inclined conveyor for slidable movement therealong, means supported on said gathering. element and movable along and driven by said endless chains for moving said gathering element forwardly along said inclined conveyor. at a relatively slow rate of speed and rearwardly along said inclined conveyor at a higher rate of speed without reversal of said endless chains. 1

3. In combination with a loading machine, aninclined conveyor comprising a conveyor frame and a plurality of. endless chains having flights carried therebetween, a gathering element supported on said inclined conveyor for slidable movement therealong, means carried by said gathering elementand movable along and driven by said endless chains for moving said gathering element along said inclined conveyc-r including means for automatically stopping movement of said gathering element along said inclined conveyorl at either the forward or rearward extremities thereof while said endless chains are moving in one direction.

4. In combination with a loading machine, a

conveyor comprising a conveyor frame and a plurality of endless chains having flights carried therebetween, a gathering element supported on said conveyor forreciprocable slidable movement therealong, means supported on saidgathering element and movable along and driven by said endless chains for moving said gatheringv element forwardly along said conveyor at aslow rate of speed and rearwardly along said conveyor at a higher rateiof speed without reversal of said endless chains, means for controlling movement of said gathering element along said conveyor from a common point on said conveyor in allpositions of said gathering element with respect to said conveyor and means for automatically stopping rearward or forward movement of said'gatheringelement along said conveyor at either the forward or rearward extremities thereof.

5. In combination with a loading machine, a conveyor, a gathering element supported on said conveyor for reciprocable slidable movement therealong, and means driven by said conveyorfor, moving said gathering element therealong comprising a shaft extending parallel with saidconveyor and driven thereby, a rack, a pinion meshing with said rack, and means driven by said shaft for drivingsaid pinion in one directionat one speed. and in another direction at another speed without reversal of rotation of said shaft. V I

6. In combination with a loading, machine. a conveyor, a gathering element supported on said conveyor for reciprocable slidable movement therealong. means driven by said conveyor for moving said gathering element therealong comprising a shaft extending parallel with said conveyor and driven thereby, a rack, a pinion meshing withsaid rack, and means driven by said shaft for driving said pinion in one direction at one speed and in another direction at another speed without reversal of rotation of said shaft comprising a planetary gear reduction device. i

'7. In ,combination'with a'loading machine, a conveyor, a-gathering element supported on said conveyor for reciprocable slidable movement therealong, means driven by said conveyor for moving said gathering element therealong comprising a shaft extending parallel with said iconveyor and driven thereby, a rack, a pinion meshing with said rack, and means driven by saidv shaft for, driving said pinion in one direction at one speed and in another-direction at another speed without reversal of rotationot said shaft comprising a planetary gear reduction deviceincluding a casing havingan internal gear connected thereto, a sun gear rotated'by said shaft;

planetary pinions meshing with said sun gear and internal gear and movableabout said sun'- gear and means for holding said planetary pinions from orbital movement with respect to saidsun gear or orbitally moving said planetary pinions with said sungear upon rotation thereof.

8. In combination with a loading machines, conveyor, agathering element supported onsaid conveyor for reciprocable slidable movement therealong, means driven .by said conveyor for 'moving said gathering element therealong com-.

prising a shaft extending parallel with said conveyor and driven thereby, a rack, a pinion meshing with said rack, and means driven by said shaft for driving said pinion in'one direction at one speed and in another direction at another speed without reversal ofrotation of'said shaft comprising a planetary gear reduction device including a casing having an internalgear connected thereto, a sun gear rotated' by said shaft,

planetary pinionsemeshing with, said sun gear and internalgear and movable about saidsun gear and means for holding said planetary pinions from orbital movement with,-resp'ect to' said sun gear or orbitally moving said planetary pin'- ;ions with. said sun gear upon rotation of said shaft comprising a clutch member connectible with said planetary pinions engageable with a fixed non-rotatable part;

' 9. In combination with a loadingmachinasa conveyor, a gathering element supported on said I conveyor for reciprooable slidable movement therealong, and means driven, by said conveyor,

for moving said gathering element therealong comprising a shaft extending parallel with said conveyor and driven thereby, a rack, a pinion meshing with said rack, and means drivenzby said shaft for driving said pinion in one direction at one speed and in another direction'atanother speed without reversal of rotation of said shaft comprising "a planetary gear reduction device including a casing having an internal :gear connected thereto, a' SllIl' gear-rotated by said shaft, planetary pinions meshingwith said sun gear and internal gearand movable about said sun gear and means for holding said planetary pinions from orbital movement with respect to said sun gear or orbitally moving said planetary pinions with said sun gear comprising a clutchmember connectible with said planetary pinions and shiftablealong said shaft for engagement with a fixed non-rotatable part or suitable means on said shaft.

a conveyor, a gathering element supported on said conveyor for reciprocable slidable movement therealong, means driven by said conveyor for moving said gathering element therealong comprising a shaft extending parallel with saidconveyor and driven thereby; a rack, a pinion meshing with said rack, andmeans driven by said shaft for driving said pinion in one direction at one speed and'in another direction at another speed without reversal of rotation of said shaft comprising a. planetary gear reduction device including a casing havingan internal gGar'bOH- 10. In combination with a loading 'machine,

nectedthereto, 1a sun gear rotated by saidishaftjplanetarypinion's meshingwithsaid sungearandfl internal gearand movable about saidsun gear,

means for -holding'said planetary pinionsvfrom orbitalmoyernentwith respect to said sungear or orbitally moving said planetary pinions with said sun gear comprisinga clutch member iconnectible' with said planetary pinions. and shift; able along said shaft for engagement with a fixed non-rotatableipartor said shaft; and means connectible with said conveyor for automatically shifting said clutch member at either theiforward or" rearward. extremities of movement of said gathering element therealongi V 11. In combination with a loading machine, a conveyor, a gathering element supported on said conveyor forhxreciprocable slidable movement therealong, means-driven by said-conveyor for i moving said gathering element therealong com prisingla shaft extending parallel withisaid conveyor and. driven thereby, a" rack, a pinion'mes'hex ing withsaidrack, and, means driven by said shaft for driving saidpinion in one directiontat' one speed and'in anotherpjdirection at another speed without reversal of rotation of said'shaft comprising :a planetary gear reduction-device including a casing having an internal gear con'-" I nected thereto, a sun gear rotated by said shaft, planetary "pinions meshing with said sungear and internal gear andmovable about saidsun gear, means for holding said planetary pinions from orbital movement with respect to said sun gear or 'orbitally moving said planetary pinions with said sun gearcomprising a clutch member connectiblewith said planetary pinions and shiftable'along" said shaft for engagement with a fixed shaft; and means for shifting said clutch'member from ;a common'i point on said conveyor frame during any position'of movement of said gathering element with respect to'said conveyor-frame. 12. In. combination with 'a loading machine,

an inclined conveyor," a gathering element 'sup l ported on said inclined'conveyor for reciprocable ,slidable movement therealong, means driven by non-Irotatablepart or suitable means on saidl saidinclined conveyor for moving said gathering" element there'along comprising a shaft-extending parallel with said inclined conveyor andfdriven thereby, a' rack, a pinion meshing with said rack,j

and me'ans-driven by said shaft for driving said with said sun gear and internal gear and mov able aboutisaid sun'gear, means for holding said planetary pinions from orbital movement with respect tosaid sun gear ororbitally'moving saidf planetary pinions with said sun gear eo'mprisinga clutch member 7 connectible with said planetary pinionsand shiftable along said shaft for enga e. i

merit witli a fixed non-rotatable part or suitable 'means' on said' shaft, 'meahs for shifting said clutch'memberfrom a common point on said in clin'ed' conveyor frame during 'anyposition of movt'ament of said-gatheringlelement with respect" to said a conveyor frame comprising an endless chain threaded about a suitable. drive means on said inclined conveyor frame having operative" connection with said clutch'me'mber. I 13..In combination'with a loading machine; an inclined conveyor, a gathering element sup ported bn sa-id inclined conveyor for reciprocable' slidable movement therealong, andmeans driven A by said inclined'con'veyor for moving said gathering element therealong comprising a shaft extending parallel with said inclined conveyor and driventhereby, a rack, a pinion meshing with said rack, andmeans driven by said shaft for driving" with respect to said sun gear or orbitally moving said planetarypinions with said sun gear com.-

prising a clutch member "connectible with said.

planetary pinions and shiftable along said shaft forengagement with a fixed non-rotatable part or suitable means on'said shaft, means for shifting said clutch member from a single point on said inclined conveyor frame during any position of movement! of said gathering element with respect to .said conveyor frame, and other' means connectible with said inclined conveyor and clutch member for automatically shifting said clutch member -as said, gathering elementgapproaches either the forward or rearward extremities of its travel along said inclined conveyor.

14. In combination with a loading machine, an inclined conveyor, a gathering element supported on' said inclined conveyor for reciprocable. slidable movement therealong, means driven by said inclined conveyor for moving said gathering elementtherealong comprising a shaft extending. parallel with said inclined conveyor and driven thereby, a rack, a pinion meshing with said rack, andmeans driven by said shaft for driving said pinion in one direction at one speed and in another direction at another speed without reversal V of rotation of said shaft comprising aplanetary gear reduction device including acasing having;

an internal gear connectedthereto, a sun gear rotated by saidlshaft, planetary pinions meshing with said sungearand internal gear and movable saidsun gear comprising a clutch member con- ,nectiblewithsaid planetary pinions and shiftable along said-shaft for engagement with a fixed non-rotatable part or suitable means on said shaft,

- means for shifting said clutch member from a single point on said inclined conveyor frame dur-,

ing any position of movement of said gathering element with respect to said conveyor frame comprising an endless chain'threaded about a'suitable drive means on said inclined conveyor frame having operative connections with said clutch member and'means connectible with said drive means for operatingisaid endless chain, and other means connectible with said inclined'conveyor and clutch member for automatically shifting 'said clutch member, as said gathering elementapproaches either the forward or rearward extremities of its travel-along said inclined conveyor.

15. In combination with aloading machine, an

inclined conveyor comprising a conveyor frame,

a-gathering element carried for movement therealong, drive sprockets adjacent the rearward end of said conveyor 'frame,.direction changingdevices adjacent the forward end'of said conveyor frame and-endless chains havingflights carried therebetwee'n'trained around said drive" sprockets.

and direction changing devices for continuous movement thereabout, and means supported by said inclined conveyor and movable along said endless chains for moving said gathering element forwardly or rearwardly along said inclined conveyor comprising a shaft extending parallel with and driven by said endless chains, a rack, a pinion meshing with said rack, and means driven by said shaft for driving said pinion in one direction at one speed and in another direction at another speed without reversal of rotation of said shaft.

16. In combination with avloading machine, an inclined conveyor comprising a conveyor frame, a gathering element carried for movement therealong, drive sprockets adjacent the rearward end of said conveyor frame, direction changing devices adjacent the forward end of said conveyorframe and endless chains having flights carried therebetween trained around said drive sprockets and direction changing devices for continuous movement thereabout, and means'supported by said inclined conveyor and movable along said endless chains for moving 'saidgathering element forwardly or rearwardly along said inclined conveyor comprising a shaft extending parallel with and driven .byfsaid endless chains, a rack, a pinon meshing with said rack,-. and means driven by said shaft fora-driving said pinion in one direction at one.

pinions and means for holding said planetary pinions from orbital movement or allowing said planetary pinions to move in orbital paths about the axis of saidshaft.

17. In combination with a loading machine, an inclined conveyor comprising a conveyor frame, a gathering element carried for movement therealong, drive sprockets adjacent the rearward end of said conveyor frame, direction changing devices adjacent the forward end of said conveyor frame and endless chains havingflights carried therebetween trained around said drive sprockets and direction, changingv devices for continuous movementthereabout, and means supported by said inclined conveyor and movable along said endless chains I, for moving said gathering element for- 7 ionsfrom orbital movement or allowing said planetary pinions to move in orbital paths about the axis of saidshaft comprising a clutch member connectible withsaid planetary pinions and shiftable along said shaft forengagement with a fixed non-rotatable part or suitable means on said shaftg I v 18. In combination with a loading machine, a conveyor, a gathering elementsupported on said conveyor for reciprocable slidable movement therealong, and means driven by said conveyor for moving said gathering element along said con,- veyor in a forwardly direction with respect to said conveyor at a slow speed and in a;rearwardly-direction at a higher speed comprising a shaft driven by said conveyor, drive means connectible with conveyor, a gathering element supported on said conveyor for reciprocable slidable movement therealong, and means driven by said conveyor for moving said gathering element along said conveyor in a forwardly direction with respect to said conveyor at a slow speed and in a rearwardly direction at a higher speed comprising a shaft driven by said conveyor, drive means connectible with said gathering element and conveyor for moving said gathering element along said conveyor, means connecting said shaft with said drive means for driving said drive means in one direction 7 at one speed and in another direction at another speed comprising a clutch member, and means for shifting said clutch member from a single point on said conveyorduring any position of movement of said gathering element with respect to said conveyor comprising flexible power transmission means supported by said conveyor and having operative connection with'said clutch member, and means-on said conveyor for driving said flexible power transmission means.

20. In combination with a loading machine, an inclined conveyor, a gathering element supported on said inclined conveyor for reciprocable slidable movement therealong, and means driven by said inclined conveyor for moving said gathering element along said inclined conveyorin a forwardly direction with respect to said inclined conveyor at a slow speed and in a rearwardly direction at a higher speed comprising a shaft driven by said conveyor, drive means connectible with said gathering element and inclined conveyor for moving said gathering element along said inclined conveyor, means connecting said shaft with said drive means for driving said drive means in one direction at one speed and in another direction at another speed comprising a clutch member, and means for shifting said clutch member from a single point on said inclined conveyor during any. position of movement of said gathering element with respect to said inclined conveyor comprising flexible power transmission means supported by said inclined conveyor and having operative connection with said clutch member, and means on said inclined conveyor for driving said flexible power transmission means, and other means connectible with said inclined conveyor and clutch member for automatically shifting said clutch member as said gathering element approaches either the forward or rearward extremities of its travel along said inclined conveyor.

21. In an extensible conveying means, a frame having a conveyo-r'thereon; a conveying element mounted on said frame for slidable movement therealong and adapted to discharge material onto said conveyor, 'and'means carried by said conveying element'and movable along and driven by said conveyor for moving said conveying element along said frame While being driven by said conveyor comprising a pinion, a rack meshed with said pinion, a drive connection from' said conveyor to said conveying element and a selective drive connection from said last-named drive connection to said pinion.

22; In an extensible conveying means'a frame having a conveyor thereon, a conveying element on said frame andslidably movable with respect thereto and adapted to discharge material onto said conveyor, and means carried by said conveying element and movable along and .driven' by said conveyor for'moving saidconveying element along said frame while being driven by said conveyor comprising a pinion, a rack meshed with said pinion, a drive connection from said conveyor to said conveying element and a selective reversible drive connection from said last named drive connection to said pinion.

23. In an extensible conveying means, a frame having a conveyor thereon, a conveying element on said frame and slidably movable with respect thereto, and means carried by said conveying element and movable along and driven by said "conveyor for moving said conveying element along said frame While being driven by said conveyor comprising a pinion, a rack meshed with said pinion, a drive connection from said conveyor to said conveying element and aselec 1 tive reversible drive connection from said last' driven by said conveyor for moving said convey ing element along said frame at a relatively slow rate of speed in one direction and ata higher rate of speed in an opposite direction without reversal of said conveyor while being driven by said conveyor. 1

25. In an extensible conveying means, a frame having a conveyor thereon, a'conveying element on said frame and slidably movablewith respect thereto, means carried by said conveying element and movable alongand driven by said conveyor for driving said conveying element along said frame while being driven by said conveyor in-' cluding reverse drive mechanism comprising a planetary geared reduction device, and means for automatically, stopping movement or" said conveying element along said frame at either the forward or rearward extremities thereof while said conveyor is moving in one direction.

FRANK CAR'I'LIDGE. 

